Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 35114 (Alabaster, AL)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Helena, AL (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)236 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Clanton 2 NE (30 mi), Northport 2 S (42 mi), Talladega 10 NNE (52 mi).
4-inch depth
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Clanton 2 NE (30 mi), Northport 2 S (42 mi), Talladega 10 NNE (52 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 35114 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 70°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 4 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 8: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 26 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 19 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 9 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 26 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 8 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 29 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 3 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 19 | Nov 8 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 4 | Nov 22 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 35114
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 19) and first fall frost (Nov 8). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 8–22 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 8–22 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 26–Mar 19 (transplant) Feb 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 4 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 19 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 8–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 8–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–26 (transplant) Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 12–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 19–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 19–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 19–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 19–26 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 19–26 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 5–19 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Mar 26–Apr 2 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 5–19 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Helena, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00013781), elevation 480 ft, 3.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabaster Shelby Co AP, AL | 6 mi | Mar 12 | Nov 16 |
| Bessemer 3 WSW, AL | 14 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 10 |
| Thorsby EXP STN, AL | 24 mi | Mar 21 | Nov 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 35114
When is the last frost in 35114?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 35114 is March 19. For a more cautious planting date, use April 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 35114?
The average first fall freeze is November 8. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 26.
What hardiness zone is 35114?
ZIP 35114 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 35114 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
35080 Helena 35007 Alabaster 35115 Pea Ridge 35022 Bessemer 35244 Hoover 35124 Pelham 35040 Calera 35226 Hoover
Other ZIP codes in Shelby County
35007 35040 35043 35051 35078 35080 35115 35124 35143 35147 35176 35178 35185 35186 35242 35244 All Shelby County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.